The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-04
Allan Quartermain
By H. Rider Haggard.
Author of "She," King Solo
Mons Mines "Jcss," "Thc
Witch's Head,' Etc.


leaned thei- against it, miserable, helpless
log, and grouyl my teeth, and watched that
glorious struggle. could do no more, for |
had lost my revolver in battle.
And old Umslopogaas, he leaned, too, on
his good axe, and, faint as he was with
wounds. he Knocked them, he called them
"women'-the grand old warrior, standing
there, one against so manyl And for
breathing space none would come against him,
Notwithstanding Nasta's exhortations, till at
last old Agon, who, 20 do him justice, was a
brave man, mad with baflled rage, and seeing
that the wall would soon be built and his
plans defeated, shook the great spear he held,
and rushed up the dripping steps.
"Ah, ahl" shouted the Zulu, as he rocog-
nized the priests flowing white beard, "it is
thou. old witch fnderr Come on await
thee white medicine man., come on! come
on | have sworn to Stay slee, and l ever
keep my faith"
On he came, taking him at his word, and
drove the big spear with such force at UNI
slopogaas that it sunk right through the
tough shield and pierced him in the neck
The Zulu cast down the transfixed shield, and
that moment was Agon's last, for before he
could free his spear and strike again, with
shout of "rheres for thee, rain makerW
Umslopogaas griped lnkosi-kaas with both
hands. and whirled her on high, and drove
her right on TO his venerable head, so that
Agon rolled down dead among the corpses of
his fellow murderers, and there was an end
of him and his plots together And even as
he fell great cry rose from the foot OF the
stair. and looking out through the portion OF
tine doorway that was yet Enclosed we saw
armed mon rushing up TO the rescue, and
called an answer TO their shouts. Then the
would he murderers who yet remained on the
stairway and among whom | saw several
priests, turned TO fly, but, having nowhere TO
90, were butchered rs they fled. Only one
man stayed and he was the great lord Nasta,
Nyleptha's sutton, and the father of the plot.
For moment the black bearded Nasta stood
with bowed face leaning on his long sword as
though in despair, and then, with dreadful
shout. he too rushed up at the Zulu, and,
swinging the glitering sword around his
head. dealt him such n mighty blow beneath
his guard that the keen steel of the heavy
blade bit right through the chain armor and
deep into Umslopogaas side, for a moment
paralyzing him and causing him to drop
his AK.
Raising the sword again, Nasta sprang for
ward 10 make an end of him, but little he
knew his foe With n shake and yell of
fury, the Zulu gathered himself together and
sprang straight at Nasta's throat, as | have
sometimes seen wounded lion spring. lie
struck him full rs his foot was on the top
most stair and his long arms closing round
him like iron bands, down they rolled to-
gether struggling furousiy. Nasta was
strong man and desperate, but he could not
match the strongest man in Hululand, sore
wounded though he was, whose strength was
as the strength of n bull In a minute the
end came | saw old Umsopogaas stagger TO
his feet-ay. and saw him, by single gigan-
tic effort. swing up the struggling Nasta,
ana. with a shout of triumph, huri him
STRAIGHT over the unranet of the bridge. TO he
crushed To powder on the rocks @JU ieet DE-
low
The surcor which had been summoned by
the Girl who had passed down the stair before
the assassins passed up was at hand, and the
loud shouts which reached us from the outer
gates told us that the town was also aroused
and the men awakened by the women were
calling 10 be admitted. Some of Nylepthas
brave ladies, who, III their night shifts alId
with their long hair streaming doYh
their backs, just as they had Yen
aroused from rest, had worked so gal
lantly at blocking the passage throuyG the
wall, went off to admit them at W. side
entrance. while others, assisted 10y We rescu
ing party outside pushed ana palied 'lown
the marble blocks they had placed-tlere with
so much labor
Soon the wall was down again, and through
the doorway, followed bya crowd OF res
cuers, staggered old Umslopogaas, an awful.
and. in way, a glorious figure. The man
was mass of wounds, and glance at his
wild eye told me that he was dying. The
"keshlar gum ring upon his head was severed
in two places by sword cuts, one just over the
curious hole in his skull, and the blood poured
down his face from the gashes. Also, ON the
right side of his neck was a stab from
spear, Inflicted by Agon; there was a deep
cut on his left arm just below where the mail
shirt sleeve stopped, and on the right side oil
his body the armor was severed by cash SIX
inches long, where Nastas mighty sword had
bitten through IL and deep into its wearers
vitals
On, AK in hand, he staggered, that dreadful
looking, splendid savage, and the ladies Tor
got TO turn faint at the scene OF blood, and
cheered him. as well they might, but be never
stayed or needed. With outstretched arms
and lettering gait he pursued his way. fol-
lowed by us all along the broad shell strewn
walk that ran through the court yard, past
the spot where the blocks Of marble lay,
through the round arched doorway and the
thick curtains that hung within IL, down the
short passage and into the great hall, which
was now filling with hastily armed men, who
poured through the side entrance. Straight
up the ball he went, leaving behind him
track OF blood on the marble pavement, till
ut last be reached the sacred stone, which
stocd in the center Of It, and here his strength
seemed to fail him, for ne stopped and leaned
,,,.on his ny Then suddenly he lifted up his